Protect Your Earning Power, Not Your Job

2017 will be the year that many people become very concerned about their jobs.

Automation (via artificial intelligence and robotics) is replacing many aspects of work.

If your role contains work that is predictable, logical, routine and data driven, then those functions will be replaced by technology very soon.

No longer can you think about protecting your job, your role or your function.

You must think about your earning power.

That requires a major mindset shift.

You must think about what is needed that can’t be done by artificial intelligence and robotics.

You must think about what still matters to people and the economy that can’t be done by technology.

Above all, you now can think about what you’d love to do.

You cannot afford to assume “They’ll never be able to do that with technology”.

For example: Lawn mowing – how long will it be before a driverless lawn mower can mow your lawn perfectly, reading your garden’s shape and conditions and automatically do it?

Learn about what people still want that can’t be done by technology and pursue those.

Those which contain these factors:

1. Compassion – human to human – such as caring for the aged and infirm; interpreting complex needs of others; negotiating resolution of disagreements; arguing a legal case (not as a solicitor, but as a barrister); effective politics.
2. Unpredictable – assessing and actioning on risks that are both physical and emotional – nursing, police work; emergency work; social work.
3. Leadership – people hunger for effective leadership always, it’s one of the big deficits we face. We can learn to be effective leaders who people choose to follow.
4. Creativity – our cultures are borne of creativity in all its forms. Computer art won’t cut it.

What else could you think about to protect your earning power, rather than blindly deny the high probability that your job, or much of it, will become redundant because of technology?

Be willing to discuss this with others, to help yourself and them.

Let me know what you think.

Photo Credit: Robson Hatsukami Morgan